Nothing is more important for your own and your family’s safety while driving than your car’s brakes. If just one component malfunctions, you could be facing a very dangerous situation. Brake systems are made up of multiple elements, including pads, rotors or discs, and calipers. Calipers facilitates the application of the brake pads to the actual brakes, slowing down tire rotation and ultimately the car. It’s vital that brake calipers are a good quality, and always kept in good repair.
Calipers become worn just like most other car parts. This typically results from water or other moisture or contaminants getting into the piston gasket and corroding the caliper. The most common malfunction caused by this process is a stuck caliper. You may notice the car pulling to one side or the other during braking, or a tire that becomes hot after use. When the car is jacked up, it may be difficult to turn the wheel one way or the other and there may be a grinding sound. Any one of these signs is an indicator that you should have your brakes checked.
When replacing a corroded, stuck, or malfunctioning brake caliper, keep a few things in mind to make sure you are getting a good quality brake caliper:
Buy OEM: Brakes are nothing to mess around with and when it comes to calipers, aftermarkets may be more prone to rusting than OEM. Your safety is the priority and with OEM, you know exactly what you are getting.
Buy American or European: If you do choose aftermarket calipers to save a few bucks, stick with a reputable company that manufactures their parts in the USA or Europe, that have stricter production controls, rather than China.
YourMechanic supplies top-quality brake calipers to our certified mobile technicians. We can also install a brake caliper that you've purchased. Click here to get a quote and more information on brake caliper replacement.
